Hotel Brunelleschi
It was love at first sight when I saw the photo above of the Hotel Brunelleschi at a travel conference a few years ago. Since then I knew that I had to stay there if I ever made it to Florence. I finally got the opportunity this past April.
The room that caught my eye was a suite and of course the price was not in the budget so I booked my husband and I into an Executive room. When we checked-in, the front desk agent said that he had a surprise for us. He then asked us to follow him to our room which was the Pagaliazzo Suite!
The Pagliazza Suite is located in the top two floors of the Pagliazza tower which is considered to be the oldest building in Florence. It's origin dates back to the 6th & 7th century. In the middle ages it was a jail for women who were thought to be witches and slept on straw (pagliazza) mats. During a renovation Roman artifacts and remains of a Roman bath were found on the property. A small museum was built for hotel guests to enjoy.
Needless to say, my husband & I thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Hotel Brunelleschi. The location is in the heart (oldest part) of Florence, within walking distance of all the sights. The staff was very friendly and helpful. I highly recommend Hotel Brunelleschi if you ever visit Florence.
Ponte Vecchio or "Old Bridge" is the oldest bridge in Florence. It was the only bridge that wasn't destroyed by the Germans in WWII. The shops on both sides were originally for butchers, today they house jewelers.
You can't go to Italy and not mention food. Lots of great little places and reasonable prices.
Don't get lost in the crowd on a large group tour. Our private guide, Alessandra was excellent! The tour was like strolling the streets of Florence with a friend. She gave us little tips along the way and took us to some off the beaten path locations.
A visit to the Uffizi Gallery and the Accademia Gallery is a must do in Florence
Did you know there a 3 statues of David in Florence?
Insiders tip ~ Don't wait in the long lines to visit the museums. Buy skip the line tickets before you depart home
The best view of Florence is from Piazzale Michaelangelo. It was a bit of hike but so worth it!
If you would like more information on Florence or Italy. Contact us at info@captivatingjourneys. We would love to design a custom package for you.
I'll have more on my Italian Journey on my next newsletter. Ciao, Ciao for now
Credits:
Hotel Brunelleschi & Kathy Taksuhi